Mobile amphibious collapsible pontoon bridge



'July 31, 1951 E. MAILE MOBILE AMPHIBIOUS COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON BRIDGE 10Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed April l. 1948 July 31, 1951 E. MAILE 2,562,431

MOBILE AMPHIBIOUS COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON BRIDGE Filed April l, 1948 10Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3l, 1951 E. MAILE 2,562,431

MOBILE AMPHIBIOUS COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON BRIDGE Filed April l, 1948 l0Sheets-Sheet 3 July 3l, 1951 E. MAILE MOBILE AMPHIBIous'coLLAPsIBLEPoNTooN BRIDGE 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April l, 1948 Ida' SW w .w

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MOBILE AMPHIBIOUS COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON BRIDGE July 31, 1951 Filed April1; 1948 July 31, 1951 K E. MAILE 2,562,431

MOBILE AMPHIBIOUS COLLAPSIBLE PoNTooN BRIDGE Filed April 1, 1948 10Sheets-Sheet 7 July 31, 1951 E- MAILE 2,562,431

MOBILE AMPHIBIOUS COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON BRIDGE Filed April l, 1948 10Sheets-Sheet 8 July 3l, l95 E. MAILE 2,562,431, MOBILE AMPHIBIoUscoLLAPsiBLE PoNTooN BRIDGE Filed Agril 1, 1948 1o sheets-sheet 9 mam/i0@Edaryelzno 1%?26/ July si, i951 E. MALE 2,562,431

MOBILE AMPHIIOUS COLLAPSIBLE'PONTOON BRIDGE fet Patented July 31, i951UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE MOBILE AMPHIBIOUS COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON BRIDGEEvangeline Maile, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application April 1, 1948, Serial No. 18,326

7 Claims. (Cl. `115 1) My invention relates to a new and useful mobileamphibious collapsible pontoon bridge and has for one of its objects tolprovide a highly efficient structure for bridging a gap between twoshores of a body of water, a short distance apart and a number of thestructures being used according to the space between two thi igs.

Another object is to provide a device of this character capable of beingused on a ship or the shore to bridge the space from one to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure as a part of aship, boat or the like to provide an extensible and retractable walk organg plank to connect two ships, boats or the like for the transfer ofmen, equipment, cargo or other things from one to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the charactermentioned to be selfpropelled forwardly and backwardly either on land orwater or both. n

A further object of the present invention is to provide means forpropelling the apparatus sidewise to warp it into position and extend orretract the same.V

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists ofthedetails of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setforth and then designated by the claims. 4

In order that those skilledin the art to which this invention appertainsmay understand how to make and use the same I will describe itsconstruction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view expanded.

Fig. la is a digram of one propeller and pump connections. Y

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the water-tight bearing forthe struts.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts collapsed. K

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of bearing forstruts and buoyant device.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modification in an open or expandedcondition.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a section of the pontoon on the line 9 9 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the parts closed orcollapsed.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line Il ll of Fig. 12 with the apparatusclosed or collapsed.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view from the line l2 2 of Fig. 7, showing theapparatus.

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the parts expanded.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the slides.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cable controls.

Fig. 16 is a detail view of the cable control operating levers.

Fig. 1'7` is also a detail view of the same parts at right angles toFig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a View of the lever holding and selecting device.

Fig. 19 is a section on the line |9 l 9 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 20 20 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 21 is a section on the line 2 I 2l of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a similar view showing the `parts collapsed.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged detail section of the air conduit between twoadjacent inflatable chambers.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied 25, Figs, 2 and 6,represents a hollow' water-tight pontoon on top of which is mounted thebody 26 divided into a number of chambers,

said shaft is provided with a bevelgear 31 meshl ing with a companionbevel gear 38 on a two-piece counter shaft 39 carrying a propeller 46for driving the apparatus sidewise in the water. Said counter shaft isprovided with a clutch 4l whereby the propeller may be permitted toremain idle or be operated when desired.

On the shaft 35, Figs. 1a, 2 and 6, is a slidable l pinion 42 actuatedby a shifting lever 43 to be engaged with or disengaged from a spur gear44 on the extreme end of a short shaft 45. 'Io the gear 44 is connectedone end of a pitman 46, the opposite end being connected to the piston48 in the pump cylinder 49 which pump is used for increasing the airpressure in certain parts of the apparatus to be presently described.

The front wheels 33 are actuated for steering the apparatus by thesteering wheel 50, Figs. 1 and 6, through suitable steering gear of anywell known construction including the connecting rod 5 I.

Anchor blocks 52, Figs. 2, 4 and 6, are mounted on top of the pontoon 25adjacent one side thereof and each anchor block has a recess 53 toreceive the lower end of a strut 54 where it is pivoted for transverseswinging movements by a pin 55. 'I'he upper end of each strutispivotally mounted on a pin 56 fixed in a hangervblock 51. In the samehanger block is fixed a pin 58'on which is pivotally mounted the upperend of a companion strut 54a while the lower end of said companion strutispivotally'mounted on a 3 pin 59 in the recessed block 60 as a part ofthe sliding or shiftable supporting pontoon 6|.

The struts 54 and 54a are arranged in pairs transversely of theapparatus and pairs of said struts are arranged in sets of two or morelongitudinally and between each adjacent pair is placed a spacer 62which can be separate tubes or merely enlargements of the pivot pins 56and 58 to brace the parts and keep them properly spaced duringoperation.

Between the sets of struts are mounted panels 63, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5,arranged in pairs and the ends of said panels are beveled, as indicatedat 64,' to which are hinged end panels 65 at 66- and the two end panelsat either end are hinged together at 61. I'hese panels' provide acertain amount of protection for a rubber bag 68 that extends across thespace between anchor blocks 52, 60 when the latter are separated as willbe described below. To limit the expansion of the rubber bags each ofsaid bags has one or more flexible cables 69 inside and secured to thesides thereof.

On each block 60 of the supporting pontoons 6| are-mounted primary masts10, Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, preferably two to each of said supportingpontoons, so they are arranged in pairs. Each primary mast includes alower portion 1| of large diameter and an upper portion 12 of smalldiameter to providea shoulder 13. primary mast 10 is mounted a head 14to support one or more pulleys 15 journalled on suitable shafts 16.

A pulleyk carrier 11 is slidably mounted on the upper smaller diameterportion 12 of eachA primary mast 10 and is limited in its verticalmovements by the head 14 and the shoulder 13. In the upper end of eachpulley carrier 11 is a top pulley 18 and in the lower end is mounted abottom' pulley 19, said pulleys being journalled on suitable shafts.

A secondary mast 80, Figs. 1, 2 andV 4, is mounted on each hanger block51 and located between adjacent pairs of primary masts in transversestraight lines. On each'secondary mast 80 is a head 8| having a pulley82 mounted therein on a shaft 83.

A lifting cable 84, Figs. 2, 4 and 6, is fixed at one end to eachoutermost primarymast head 14, as at 85, then extends downwardly andaround the top pulley 18 in the pulley carrier 11 on the respectiveprimary mast, then upwardlyV and around the pulley 15 in said outermostprimary mast head 14, thence to and over the pulley 82 in the adjacentsecondary mast head 8|, then to and over a pulley 15 in the next primarymast head 14 and so on over the several pulleys of On top of each g thesuccessive primary and secondary mast headsv l until it passes over thelast pulley 15 of the innermost primary mast head from whichr point itextends downwardly and has its other end woundIk The shaft'81 has awormgear 88,v Figs. 2, 4 and' 6, thereon with which meshes a worm 89 on avertical shaft 90 whereby the drum-shaft81'can be operated manually ifnecessary and for this purpose a hand wheel 9| is fixed on the verticalshaft 90. The vertical shaft 90 alsohas'a'bevel pinion 92 on its lowerend which'meshes withA aV bevel gear 93-on the longitudinal shaft'94.

An expanding and holding cable95j Figs. 1, 2' and 6, has one endxed at96'to'eaclr block'60v the other extensible pontoons.

l of an extensible pontoon 6| and then extends upwardly and over abottom pulley 19 in its respective pulley carrier 11 and then downwardlyand under a pulley 91 mounted on the outermost supporting pontoon thenceacross the space occupied by the rubber bag and around another pulley 91at one end of an intermediate supporting pontoon, then upwardly andaround a bottom pulley 19 in the succeeding pulley carrier and so onuntil its opposite end is wound on the drum 98. There are as many drumsas there are cables, here shown as two in number, and said drums aremounted on a longitudinal shaft 99. This longitudinal shaft 99 has aworm gear |00 fixed f thereon with which meshes a worm mounted on avertical shaft |02 on which there is a hand wheel |03 whereby theexpanding and holding cables 95 may be manually actuated.

The closing cables |04 have their outer ends` secured at rings on theouter extensible pon-Y toon and extend to the opposite side of theapparatus where the` opposite ends are wound on the drums |06 xed on thelongitudinal shaft |01. These cables pass through rings |05a on On theshaft |01 is a worm gear |08, Fig. 6, with which meshes a worm |09 onthe vertical shaft ||0 carrying a hand wheel whereby the closing cablesmay be manually actuated if necessary.

In order to mechanically actuate the several shafts on which the cabledrums are mounted, a

power shaft I2, Figs. -18, is suitably connectedV to the transmission ofthe source of power, such carries a pair of opposed spaced bevel gearsdes-l The l ignated |28 and |29, |30, and |32 and |33. opposed gears |28and |29 can be shifted to alternately engage the bevel gear |34 on theshaft 94 or be caused to assume a neutral position out of engagementwith the gear |34. In a similar manner the opposed gears and |3|cooperate with a bevel gear |35 on the shaft |36 which carries a secondbevel gear |31 that meshes with a bevel gear |38 mounted on the verticalshaft ||0 whereby power and motion are transmitted to the shaft |01 forcontrolling the closing cables.

Likewise the opposed gears |32 and |33 cooperate with the bevel gear |39on a shaft |40 which has another bevel bear 4| mounted on it to meshwith a bevel gear |42 on thevertical shaft |02 to transmit power andmotion. to the shaft 99 for controlling the expanding cables.

The pairs of opposed gears are shifted by the levers |43, |44 and |45,respectively, and each lever passes through a rack |45 having. threenotches |41, |48 and |49 in three spaces, one for each lever. When alever, for example, lever |43 is in the center notch |48 the gears |28and |29 are in a neutral position and they are out of engagement withthe gear |34y but if the lever |43 is shifted to either of the othernotches one of the gears |28 or |29 will be moved into mesh with thegear |34 and cause it to revolve in either direction.

A sectional platform or decl; |50 consists of a stationary section andseveral movable sections |52, |53, |54 and |55. The movable section |52has one end pivoted between the pair of pulley carriers Il at one sideof the apparatus and the other end is pivoted between a pair of struts54. The adjacent movable platform section |53 has one end pivotedbetween a pair of companion struts 54a and the other end is pivotedbetween a pair of intermediate pulley carriers 1l. The next movableplatform section |54 has one end pivoted between the same pair of pulleycarriers to which the section |53 is pivoted and the other end of saidmovable platform section |54 is pivoted between the next adjacent pairof struts 54, and so on to the opposite side of the apparatus.

In operation, while the apparatus is closed or contracted it may beoperated over roads or the ground to the vicinity of the location whereit is to be used. It is then driven into a body of water until theapparatus floats. Thereafter the propellers are operated to warp theapparatus into a position with either side adjacent a bank of the bodyof water. The side near the bank is then anchored or made fast and theapparatus is extended by actuating the proper cables as next described.

The shafts 81 and |01 are operated either manually, or mechanically fromthe motor through the gear shift, in the proper directions to loosen orplay out the lifting cables 84 and the closing cables |54 after thevalve 255 in the intake and exhaust pipe |56 leading to the pumpcylinder 49 has been opened. At or about the same time the shaft 99 isoperated to wind up the expanding and holding cables 95 causing thepulley blocks i1 to descend until said blocks engage and rest on theAshoulders I3 of the masts 763. At this time the lower ends of the strutsengage their mountings and the upper ends engage each other to act asstops. During this operation the movable sections |52 to |55 of the deck|53 are straightened out from their collapsed positions shown in Fig. 4to their extended positions as in Fig. 2. Simultaneously the rubber bagsSS are expanded and air is drawn in through the pipe |56 and the branchpipe |51 to the nearest bag and then through connecting pipes |58 tosucceeding bags. This adds bouyancy to the apparatus and during theextending actions said bags can, if desired, be gradually filled withcompressed air by operating the pump 49, which will assist the extendingaction, or the air can be compressed after the apparatus has beencompletely extended.'

As the apparatus is extended the free side thereof is propelled out intothe body of water providing a walk or driveway of considerable length.Two or more of the devices may be employed side by side to form a bridgeof any desired length over the body of water to actually provide abridge from one bank to another, or provide a pier to which ships may bemade fast for loading or unloading. If it is impossible to make theapparatus directly fast to a bank, a suitable gang plank can be laidacross the space between the bank and the adjacent side of theapparatus.

To collapse the apparatus, the operations set forth above are reversed.In other words, the expanding and holding cable S5 is slackened off andthe cables 84 and |04 are reeled in, the former being started just aheadof the latter to initially raise the deck sections, it being understoodthat the valve 255 is open to permit the air to exhaust from the bags68. This will raise the ends of the deck sections that are connectedwith. the struts F14-54a and also elevate the upper ends of said strutsthus drawing in the parts which are projecting beyond. the body 26 intothe latter and also folding the parts on said body into a compact space.to make room for the formerly projecting parts.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14and 19 the reference numeral 25a represents the hollow water-tightpontoon on which is mounted the body 26a divided into a number ofchambers, including the forward water-tight chamber 21a, a centralchamber 28a and a rear water-tight chamber 23a.

In the pontoon is mounted a motor 30a, Figs. 7 and 19, of any desirabletype for driving the rear wheels 3|a through the shaft 32a. Front wheels33a are also provided which, with said rear wheels, support theapparatus on land. The motor also drives a shaft 34a whichprojectsthrough the rear wall of the pontoon and has a propeller 35amounted on it for propelling the apparatus forwardly. A third shaft 36a,is also driven by the motor and said shaft 36a is provided with a bevelgear 21a meshing with a companion bevel gear 33a on a two-piece countershaft 39a, similar to the detail showing in Fig. la, carrying apropeller 46a for driving the apparatus sidewise in the water. Saidcounter shaft is provided with a clutch @a whereby the propeller may bepermitted to remain idle or be operated when desired.

On the shaft 36a is a slideable pinion 42a, Fig. 7, actuated by ashifting lever 43a. to be engaged with or disengaged from a spur gear44a on the extreme end of a short shaft 45a, Fig. 10. One end of apitman 46a is connected to the gear 44a while the opposite end of saidpitman is connected to the piston rod Ala-carrying the piston 48a in thepump cylinder 49a which pump is used for increasing the air pressure incertain parts of the apparatus to be presently described.

The front wheels are actuated for steering the apparatus by the steeringwheel 56a, Fig. 19, through suitable steering gear of any well knownconstruction including the connecting rod 5 |a.

Anchor blocks 52a, Figs. 7, 8 and 10, are mounted in pairs on top of thepontoon 25a adjacent one side thereof and pivoting means 55a, such as ashaft or pins, are supported by said anchor blocks. A pair of outerstruts 54h, spaced longitudinally of the apparatus, have their lowerends mounted on the pivoting means 55a and have outwardly extendingangular ends 54o' and said struts are pivoted adjacent their upper ends,at the angles formed by the angular ends, on a pivoting means 56a, xedin hanger blocks 51a. On the pivoting means 55a. are mounted the lowerends of the intermediate struts |59 which also have angular upper ends|60, the terminals of which are convex to ride under the deck planks tobe later described. On the pivoting means 56a are mounted the upper endsof a pair of companion outer struts 54d also having angular ends 54ewhich coact with the other outer struts, being set into one anothersimilar to a hinge. The lower end of the companion outer struts 54d aremounted on the pivoting means 55o fixed in anchor blocks 52h mounted ona sliding or shiftable supporting pontoon Bla of which there may be oneor a plurality.

Similarly, companion intermediate struts |59a having angular upper endsare mounted adjacent saidV upper ends. on the pivoting means 56a andtheir lower. ends are mounted on the pivoting means 55h. The aboverefers to one set of struts and these may be repeated as many times asdesired to provide a projectable structure of any preferred length andthe duplicate parts will be designated by the same reference numerals.

On the set of struts comprising those numbered |59 and 54h, Figs. 'i and8, and the similar set designated liga and 54d, are mounted the 'panels63a. These panels provide a certain amount of protection and supportfor. the rubber bags Sta, one located above or adjacent each set ofstruts. Other parts of the bags are supported by the side walls oftheshiftable pontoons |S|a which have inclined side walls Sic, or a hangerbar lSl. The tops of the bags are unsupported and can fold up when theis retracted as shown in Fig. or may be stre ched taut when theapparatus is extended as shown in Fig. 8.

A sectional platform or deck a, Figs. 7, 8 and 10, consists of astationary section |5|a and several movable sections |52a, |53a, |54aand |55a plus the top walls |62 and |63 of the shift- L:

able pontoons 6 |a. The outer end of the movable section |52a of thedeck is pivoted at |34 to the stationary deck section lila and the outerends of other movable deck sections are pivoted at to the respectiveshiftable pontoons 6|a.

The convex ends of the pairs of struts |58 and |59a, Figs. 8 and 10,ride under and engage the deck sections to support the latter and assistin raising them as the apparatus is collapsed To draw the decl; sectionsdown a pin 268 is mounted in the upper end of each of said struts |59and |59a and the ends of said pin slide in the pair of parallel guides2&9 secured to the underneath surface of the movable deck sections.There are two pairs of these guides, one pair adjacent each side of eachdeck section.

On the stationary deck sections and on each of the shiftable pontoons6in are mounted primary masts 10a, Figs. 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13, arrangedin pairs and in the upper ends are mounted vertically associated pulleys|66 with the rims contiguous one another.

Secondary masts 88a are mounted on each of the hanger blocks 51a, andmay be formed as an integral structure and in said secondary masts aremounted a pair of coacting pulleys |61' in vertical alignment so therims are adjacent one another in each pair.

Lifting cables 34a each has one end fixed to the outermost shiftablepontoon Bla, as at 85a, then they extend upwardly and between thepulleys |66 on the adjacent masts 13a, then between the pulleys |G`| onthe adjacent masts a, then between the pulleys |66 on the next masts10a, then between the pulleys |61 on the successive masts 80a and nallybetween the pulleys |66 on the masts '10a which are mounted on thestationary section Sla. of the deck |5Ud. These lifting cables 84a thenextend downwardly and are wound on drums 85a mounted on a longitudinalshaft 81a beneath the stationary section of the deck.

The shaft 81a, Figs. T, 8 and 10, has a worm gear 88a thereon with whichmeshes a worm 89a on a vertical shaft 60a projecting through the deckwhereby the drum shaft 90a can be operated manually if necessary and forthis purpose a hand wheel Sla is i-lxed on said vertical shaft 96a. Thehand operated vertical shaft 90a. also has a bevel pinion 92a on itslower end which Iii) 81 meshesV with a bevel -gear 93a on thelongitudinal shaft 94a.

Expanding and holding cables 95a, Figs. '7, 8

and 10, each has one end fixed at 96a to ther blocks 57a and underpulleys 97a on portions ofl the intermediate movable and the stationarypontoons preferably through tubes 95e, and.

finally to drums et on which said cables are wound. The' drums 98a aremounted on a longitudinal shaft 9de which has a worm gear |00a.

thereon meshing with a worm IGla on the vertical shaft |6211 providedwith a hand wheel |03a whereby the expanding and holding cables 95a maybe manually actuated.

The closing cables Ida, Figs. 7, 8 and 10, have their outer ends securedto the outer movable pontoon at |952) and extend to the opposite side ofthe apparatus where the other ends of said closing cables are wound ondrums Nia fixed on the longitudinal shaft ila. If said cables IMa passthrough pontoons, tubes I5c are provided forv this purpose. On the shaft|0`|a is a worm gear ifla, Fig. 19, with which meshes a worm |09a on thevertical shaft Hua carrying a hand wheel Ilia whereby the closing cablesmay be manually actuated when and if necessary.

The several drum shafts are mechanically operated as set forth inconnection with the first described form of the invention and the samereference numerals are applied as shown in Figs. 15 to 18. In otherwords, the shaft 94a is connected with the gear shift mechanism throughthe bevel gear l; the shaft Ila is connected with the gear shiftmechanism through the bevel gear |35, the shaft |36 and the bevel gears|31 and |38; and the shaft 99a is connected with said gear shiftmechanism through the bevel gear |39, the shaft |40 and the bevel gears|4| and |42.

The two bags 88a, Figs. 8 and 10, between ad- `jacent pairs of pontoonsare joined by an extensible bellows conduit |68, shown in detail in Fig.23 andthose on opposite sides of a pontoon are connected by rigid orother suitable conduit |69.

From the pump cylinder 49a, Fig. 8, extends an intake-exhaust pipe |56ahaving a valve 255a interposed therein beyond the branch conduit 57awhich leads to the innermost bag for supply nuid, preferably air, to theseries of bags.

In order to add rigidity to the structure between the pontoons andespecially the struts over which the bags are located, toggle levers 69are pivoted at |10 to the struts and at Ill to the hanger blocks 51awhich are provided with slots to receive the toggle levers when theapparatus is collapsed as shown in Fig. l0.

Particular attention is called to the shape of each movable pontoon, inplan, Fig. 7, wherein it is disclosed that said pontoons each have fullwidth ends and a reduced waist, the latter providing a recess betweenadjacent pontoons. to house the lower parts of the struts and. associated elements, when the apparatus is retracted. At such time the largerend portions will abut one another and present, in effect, an unbrokensurface at the sides and along the top in the region of the larger ends.

In operation, while the apparatusis closed or retracted it may bepropelled over land and/or water to a location for use. After one sidehas been made fast to a bank the other side is extended by operating theproper cables as described below.

The. shafts 81a and IU'la are actuated either manually or mechanicallyfrom the motor through the gear shift, in the proper directions toloosen orplay out the lifting cables 84a and the closing cables |0411,after the valve 255a in the intake-exhaust pipe |5611 leadingv to thepump cylinder 49a hasbeen opened. At or about the Sametime the shaft 99ais operated to wind up the expanding and holding cables 95a causing thehanger blocks 51a and the secondary masts 80a to descend until the upperends of the struts of adjacent pairs engage each otherv andV the lowerbeveled end of said struts engage their mountings which act as stops tolimit the movements.

During this operation the movable deck sections |52a swing downward intothe horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 8. At the same time therubber bags 68a are expanded and air is drawn in through the pipe |55aandthe branch pipe lia to the nearest bag and through the expansiblebellows conduits |68 and the conduit |59 to succeeding bags. This addsbuoyancy to the apparatus and during the extending operations said bagscan, if desired, be filled with compressed air by operating the pump49a, which will assist the extending action, or the air Vcan becompressed after the apparatus has been completely extended. l

.As the apparatus is extended the free side thereof is propelled outinto the body of water providing a walk or driveway of considerablelength. Any number of units may be employed in conjunction with oneanother to provide a complete temporary structure of desirable lengthand width.

To collapse or retract the apparatus, the operations are reversed andthe movable pontoons will be drawn towards one another and towards thestationary pontoon causing the struts to swing upwards into thepositions shown in Fig. l0. When the parts are thus retracted the bags88a will collapse and some parts thereof will be folded while theexpansible conduits |68 will stretch` or expand and bend over thelpivoting means 55a. It is to be understood that during the retractingoperations the valve 255 is open and the pump 49a is stopped. i

In order to protect any vulnerable parts, such as the pontoons, armorbulkheads |12, Figs. '7, 11, 12 and 13, are provided each of. which iscomprised of a multiplicity of sectional slats |13, each slat includinga lower section |14, Fig. 14, and an upper section |15. One section, as|14, has a slide socket which may be composed of two arms |16 which arebent from the sides of the section at its inner end and the other slatsection, as as slidably mounted in the socket and has stops |11 whichengage the walls of the socket to limit the projecting movements of theslat sections. Some of the slats have longitudinal slots |18 adjacenttheir outer ends to permit movements between the supporting elements andthe slotted slats under certain conditions as will be more fullyexplained below.

`The slats are arranged in staggered or offset relation to one anotherwith the lower ends pivotally connected to the panels 63a within theopenings |19 of step-like formation and? the upper ends are pivotallyconnected to the certain of the deck sections |55a also within open'-ings |80 of step-like formation. Due to the inclination of the panels69a the slats decrease in length from the outer ends of the armorbulkheads toward the centers and those closest to the centers of saidarmor bulkheads have the slots l0 |18 whereby the centermost slats andthe deck sections and the panels can move relative to one another afterthe slat sections are retracted to the fullest possible extent.

In order to make the structure even more compact when the parts areretracted, I have shown in Figs. 9, 20, 21 and 22, in particular, acollapsible or foldable pontoon |B| which may be substituted for any ofthe movable pontoons previously described. r Y

A collapsible pontoon includestwo side walls |02 and |83 have anchorblocks |80 attached thereto, which blocks have holes for the receptionof the pivot pin to pivot the struts, such as those numbered 54. Alsosaid sides are provided with. boards Vor panels that provide spacesbetween companion boards to receive and Vhouse the struts andother-parts of the mechanism, the same as the waist portions of the pon-Vis shaped to provide two recesses |91V and this bag is vfoldable orcollapsible when the sides are drawnctowards each other. The ends of thebag are inclined upwardly and outwardly from the lines IBBa.

For the purpose of retracting and projecting the sides and therebycollapsing or opening the bag, oating masts |88, Figs. 21 and 22, areprovided that are located between the sides within the bag `recesses|81, The upper ends'of oppositely disposed levers |89 are pivoted toeach mast and have T-shaped lower ends that engage and run inguideways-|90 having stop shoulders |9| at thebottoms thereof. Theselguideways are formed in companion posts |92 fastened in pairs to theinside faces of both sides |82 kand |83 and the spacing of said postsform longitudinal recesses |93 to receive the edges of a mast |88 as thepontoon is collapsed or retracted.

The lower parts of the masts are bifurcated to provide openings |94,Fig. 20, within which `the levers |89 are pivoted and in which saidlevers are housed when the apparatus is retracted. In said openings |94at the lower ends of the masts are also journalled pulleys |95 overwhich run the expanding cables |96 that also pass under pulleys |91 foriinal winding upon drums such as those previously referred to by thenumeral 99.

Pivoted to the masts and lying within the space between are some of thedeck sections |90, Fig. 20. Actually the inner ends of the deck arepivoted at both sides to the separate masts at |99 and the outer endsare pivoted, as at 200, at both sides to the inside posts |92 which arelocated against the same wall, as |82. j

The upper ends of the sides |82 and |83 are limited in their outward orseparating movements by the deck sections and in order to control thelower ends of said sides and prevent damage to the rubber-like bag, stopcables 20| have their ends connected to the sides through'the walls ofthe bag. Y

For cooperation with the floating mastsl are other masts 202, Figs. 20,21 and 22, similar to masts 10a, Fig. l0, and said other masts 202 aremounted on the sides |82 and |83 in line with said iloating masts. Themasts 202 have pulleys 203 at their upper ends and the oating mastshavepulleys 204 at their upper ends. The lifting cables similar to cables84a, pass between the pulleys on the upper ends of the masts and f isconnected to a drum on an operating shaft A81a, Fig. 8 for lifting thefloating masts to retract the sidesand thereby collapse the vpontoonvand the bag when the exhaust is open.

To inflate the bag |81, there are providedV one or more conduits 2U5forthe passage of air to said bag and the same conduit is used fordefiation or as an exhaust.

The closing cables 206, Fig. 20, have their far ends fastened tosuitable attaching means, such as rings, on the outermost pontoon andthen passes through parts of the structure, as shown in Fig. 7,'or maypass through eyelets 201 positioned on the inclined ends of the bags andespecially similarly shaped end edges of the walls |82 and |83. Theopposite ends of the closing cables are wound on drums |06 mounted on ashaft'l'l.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a mobilecollapsible pontoon bridge which may -be transported over highways .i

or other terrain under its own power and then driven into-a body ofwaterA and propelled to a desirable oirpreselected location. As soon asthe apparatus is properly lo'catedthe outermost or movable pontoon isanchored to or near the bank of the body of water and the main pontoonis propelled away from the anchorage location thus extending theapparatus to form a floating pathway or bridge over which pedestriansandvvehicles may'pass from one shore lineito anotherjtoand Vfrom a shipand the. shore or other suitable locations.

Of course I 'do not wish to be.limited"tofthe exact details ofconstruction -hereins'hownrand describedras these may'be r.varied.within the :scope of the appended claims without departing vfrom thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what 'l4v claim as new and useful is:

1. A mobile amphibious collapsible pontoon bridge comprising a buoyantvehicle body including a stationary deck -sectionprunning `gear on whichsaid-body ismounted for travelon land,

'a propeller ona shaftprojecting from the 'rear end of said body,another lpropeller-on-a second shaftprojecting from one siderof said;body approximately midway the length thereof,V amotor inside of saidbody, means to selectively transmit motion from thev motorto-the-runninggear and propellers, a series of collapsiblepontoonshingedly connected to Yone another withinthe vehicle body andlprojectablerfromthe sidethereof oppositethe location of the'sidepropellerfmovable deck sections Yhinged Vtog-portions of the projectablepontoons and toY the stationary deck Ysection a propeller on a shaftprojecting from ythe rear end or" said body, anothei'propeller onasecond shaft projecting 'from one Iside of said body intermediate theendsthereof, a'motor insideof said body, means to selectivelytransmitmotion from the lmotor to the running gear andpropel- 1ers, a series of`interconnected collapsible and pro-jectable pontoons,a portion oftheinnermost one attached to the vehicle body and the others beingprojectable over a side of said vehicle body, interconnected inflatablemeans mounted in said vehicle body and pontoons, a valve controlledpassageway connected with said inflatable means located in the vehiclebody, movable deck sections hingedly attached to the stationary decksection and to the pontoons whereby the projection of the latter willlextend the movable deck sections into a horizontal linewith thestationary deck section to provide `a runway and the collapsing of saidpontoons willfold up the movable deck-sections into upright zig-zagrelation, and means4 to project the outer ones of the series'of pontoonsoutwardly beyond the side of the vehicle body and simultaneously extendthe deck sections and expand said inflatable means.

a. The structure according to claim 3, in combination with meansoperated by the motor to mechanically actuate the pontoon projectingmeans, and other means connected with the rst mentioned means tomanually operate said pontoon projecting means independently of themotor.

5. The structure according to claim 3 wherein each pontoon includes twosolid side walls, an air and water tight pliable bag between said sidewalls, said bag having two spaced apart recesses intermediate its ends,two pairs of guides in each recess, one pair adjacent each of the sidesof the pontoon, a oating mast in each recess between the pairs of guidesin the same recess, oblique levers having their upper ends pivoted tothe mast within the same recess and having their lower ends slidablymounted in their respective guides which are provided with stops tolimit the descent thereof, deck sections pivoted to each pair of guidesin which one member of each pair is in a separate recess, and alsopivoted to the opposed masts in separate recesses, xed masts at oppositesides of the pontoon in line with each floating mast, cablesv engagingpulleys on the upper ends of the aligned fioating and iixed masts forelevating said oating masts to collapse the pontoon sides, and othercables engaging pulleys on the lower ends of the iloating masts andtheguides for lowering said iioating masts to expand the side of thepontoon'.

6. The structure according to claim 5, in combination with stop cablesof a length approximately equal to extended width of the bag and havingtheir ends secured to the side walls of the pontoon.

7. The structure according to claim 5 wherein each of the guidesconsists of a pair of companion posts spaced apart a distance equal tothe thickness of a floating mast whereby the latter may nest betweeneach pair of cooperating guide posts located at opposite sides of thepontoon.

EVANGELINO MAILE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,391,421 Sokolowski et al. Sept.20, 1921 1,821,310 King Sept. 1, 1931 1,854,336 King Apr. 19, 19322,233,240 Boldis et .a1 Feb. 25, 1941 2,355,473 Savage Aug. 8, 1944153,143 'McCutchen Nov. 9, 1948

